Giant zeppelin could revolutionize air travel

Aeroscraft's ML866 airship is set to bring zeppelins back as a viable and effective form of transport.

Having cruised through the skies for over 100 years, airships were once considered to be the ultimate way to fly. Now mostly superseded by modern airplanes these lighter-than-air behemoths have mostly disappeared, but one American company is aiming to bring them back in a big way.

Aeroscraft has developed a new type of airship, one that is far more refined and maneuverable than any that have come before. Filled with helium gas, the airship can control its buoyancy by compressing the gas in to special tanks.

Capable of traveling up to 115mph with a cargo of 66 tons, the airship would be able to take off and land anywhere, even on water, and fly directly to its destination. The project is being hailed as revolutionary as it would provide an effective way to transport supplies to war zones or areas affected by natural disasters.

The company is looking to raise enough funds to produce a fleet of 24 of the airships over the next few years and has already received $3M from a US government grant to help develop the project.

Just running out. Will cost much more soon. Goodbye squeaky voices
Check out the fleet comparison! They are some pretty big airships:
Edit: I feel bad for the elephants that they are going to be cutting in half!

Helium is a trace component in natural gas and a large portion has been held in only one world reserve, in the US. I believe the reserve is being decommissioned due to debt. A semi-trailer will carry over forty tons with a fuel efficiency of about five miles per gallon. And, trains are far more efficient, so this endeavor will undoubtably need to be highly specialized in its delivery venue to recognize profit.

I think this is a good idea. But, more along a cruise line than a transportation line. Of course getting supplies into a natyrail desaster area would also be good. Of course I will never fly on one. Fear of hieghts.

Go to HAV (Hybrid Air Vehicles, Bedford) and you will see just how advanced UK Engineering is in this field. They have built a 304 ft Helium Dirigible for the DoD in the USA (for On-Station surveillance), and they can build a LTA (Lighter Than Air) vehicle that can lift 1,000 tonnes.
The USA is playing "Catch - Up" on an entirely proven UK concept, from a tiny UK Company